Palace reacts to Duterte offer to pardon Arroyo

There is no longer any reason to talk about a possible presidential pardon for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo since she has rejected the proposal, a Palace official said yesterday.

“I think the offer (and issue) has been rendered moot by the reported refusal of the former President,” Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message.

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte recently said he talked to Arroyo and offered to grant her pardon since there is no strong case against her.

The former President, however, declined Duterte’s offer of freedom since it would be tantamount to admission of guilt on pending corruption charges. Arroyo, re-elected congresswoman of Pampanga's second district, is currently detained in a government hospital due to plunder charges.

Duterte, a lawyer by profession, instead advised Arroyo to seek bail as he lamented she has been deprived of a speedy trial.

Arroyo “politely turned down” Duterte’s offer of pardon, but is rejoicing in the thought that her “persecution” will soon end.

Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, legal consultant of Arroyo, said pardon is truly unacceptable to the former president who is not guilty of any fault in connection with the disbursement of 1366 million in confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

However, Gadon said the offer is being viewed with optimism by Arroyo and her family as a signal that the Duterte presidency will be fair and that her persecution will end.

“The case should be dismissed because she did not commit any crime and that she is innocent, there’s no iota of evidence that she committed plunder,” he said.

Back in July, President Aquino was not amenable to the proposed house arrest of Arroyo despite appeals on humanitarian grounds. The President said his predecessor already enjoyed the “privilege” of hospital arrest and must still be held accountable before the rule of law.